Title: Describe the roles of the various members of the surgical team.
Course: Surgical Technologist I (14056-I) > Section: Exploring the World of Surgical Technology

Description should include the following members of the surgical team and their roles:

- Surgeon—Physician who performs the surgical procedure
- Surgeon assistant—Physician who works alongside the surgeon as needed to aid with the surgical procedure
- Circulating nurse—RN outside the sterile field who supervises the equipment, sponge count, personnel, supplies, and sterile field and also documents the procedure
- RN First Assistant—RN who plays a hands-on role in surgical procedures by controlling bleeding, suturing incisions and wounds and intervening if complications arise at the operating table
- Scrub nurse—RN/LPN at the operating table, part of the sterile field, who assists the surgeon and anticipates his/her needs
- Surgical technologist—An allied healthcare professional who functions as a scrub nurse but without administering medications
- Anesthesiologist/nurse anesthetist—Physician/nurse who administers anesthesia and monitors the patient throughout the surgical procedure
- OR aide—Aide who obtains equipment and supplies from outside the operating room, as needed
- Vendors—Outside agency staff that provide products, services, and/or equipment

Process/Skill Questions:

- What are the educational and certification requirements for each member of the surgical team?
- How do the duties of surgical team members overlap? Why?
- In the operating room setting, how do the roles of the circulating nurse, the scrub nurse, and the surgical technologist differ?